Bolster



April 23, 1968 F. c. FRAZIER 3,378,860

BOLSTER Filed Nov. 2, 1966 INVENTGR FORREST 0. FRAZII ER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,378,860 BOLSTER Forrest C. Frazier, 207 Southridge Drive, Fort Wayne, Ind. 46805 Filed Nov. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 591,497 6 Claims. (Cl. -340) The present invention generally relates to a bolster, and more particularly relates to a unique bolster construction which can be provided relatively inexpensively and which allows the bolster to be covered with upholstery material with relative ease.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a unique bolster construction by which bolsters can be manufactured relatively inexpensively.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unique bolster construction allowing the bolster to be covered with upholstery material with relative ease.

A further object of this invention is to provide a unique bolster construction utilizing a rigid frame, a pillow member covering the frame formed of foam material having a microminiature closed cell construction, and improved means for attaching the upholstery material to the bolster.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the improved bolster of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the bolster illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bolster illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken substantially along the section line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bolster illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken substantially along the section line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary and cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, of a specific construction of the bolster of this invention.

In the broader aspects of this invention there is provided a bolster comprising a hollow frame, a pillow member of foam material covering the frame and a cover of upholstery material covering the pillow member. The pillow member has opposite ends in which a pair of depressions are formed respectively, coaxial of the bolster. The cover extends beyond the ends of the pillow member and is folded to overlay and conform to the shape of the pillow member ends and means is provided to hold the cover in the aforementioned position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown the bolster of this invention generally indicated at 8. The bolster 8 generally comprises a fname 10, a pillow member 12 of foam material, and a cover 14 of upholstery material. The frame is tubular and has an exterior surface 16, an interior 18 and opposite ends 20 and 22. Both the surface 16 and the interior 18 are of cylindrical shape. Frame 10 between the ends 20, 22 is of uniform thickness and made of a material which provides frame '10 with a rigidity and strength such that the frame 10 can support a person, for example, if a person sat on the frame 10, lays on the frame 10 or the like. Ends 20, 22 are closed by discs 24 and 26 which are made of the same material as and coaxial with frame 10, and are abutted to the frame 10 at ends 20and 22.

Pillow member 12 snugly fits over and covers frame 10 and discs 24 and 26. Thus, pillow member 12 has a tubular section 30 and opposite end sections 32 and 34. Tubular section 30 is coaxial of frame 10 and extends between the opposite frame ends 20 and 22. Tubular section 30 'ice has interior surfaces 36 and 38, both of which are cylindrical in shape and a uniform foam thickness therebetwen.

End sections 32 and 34 are identical; and thus, a description of one will suffice for both. Each end section has a depression 40 therein which is centrally located therein and is positioned on the axis 42 of the bolster. Between the depression 40 and the periphery 44 of the bolster, each end section 32, 34 is shaped to define a smoothly curved exterior surface 46 which merges with the depression 40 and the periphery 44. The thickness of foam material of each end section 30, 32 varies from a minimal thickness adjacent to the center of the recess 40 to a maximum thickness adjacent the periphery of the bolster 44.

At the center of the recess 40 and coaxial of the discs 24, 26 there are respectively provided openings 50, 52 and 54. These openings are in registry with each other. Positioned in each of the openings 50, 52 and the openings 50 and 54 are buttons 56, 58, respectively. Buttons 56, 58 each have a head 60 and a shank 62.. Head 60 is covered by upholstery material 64 and is located within the recess 40 exterior of the bolster. Shank portion 62 is located within the openings 50, 52 and 54, respectively. Secured to each of the shanks 62 is a hook 66 which extends into the interior 18 of the frame 10. A spring 68 is connected to each of the hooks 66 so as to hold the buttons 56, 58 in position. Buttons 56 and 58 hold the discs 24, 26 to the ends 20, 22 of the frame 10.

Cover 14 is provided in a cylindrical shape so as to fit snugly the section 30 of the pillow member 12. Cover 14 is axially longer than the section 311 such that cover '14 has opposite end portions 70 and 72 which extend beyond the ends of the pillow member 12. These end portions 70 and 72 are folded as at 76 so as to overlay and conform to the shape of the end sections 32, 34. After being drawn tight over the end sections 32, 34, the end portions 70, 72 are inserted within the openings 50, 52 and 54 and are thus positioned betwen the discs .24, 26, end portions 32 and 34 and the buttons 56 and 58. In this manner, the end portions 70, 72 are held in the above-mentioned folded position.

Cover 14 has attached at the periphery of the bolster adjacent end sections 32 and 34 piping 78 of upholstery material which encircles the bolster. Thus positioned, the piping 78 is coaxial of both the pillow member 12 and the frame 10.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, there is shown a specific construction of a boltser such as that above-described which is especially useful in. bolsters having an axial length of more than two feet. In this construction, both the frame 10 and the pillow member 12 are formed in tubular sections, 10a, 10b and 12a, 12b and then joined into the integral construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 by means of a suitable adhesive. Otherwise, the bolster constructed in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5 is identical with that above-described.

In a specific embodiment of the bolster of this invention, the frame 10 and the discs 24 and 26 are constructed of pressed fiberboard, cardboard or the like; the pillow member 12 is formed in two pieces, each of which is identical and comprises one-half of the pillow member 12 such as that formed by cutting the pillow member 12 along a diameter thereof; pillow member 12 is formed of foam material having a plurality of microminiature closed cells which contain gas and are gas-tight, for example, polyethylene foam material; and cover 14, buttons 56, 58 and springs 68 and hooks 66 are all conventional. The foam material which has micro-miniature closed cells is preferred since the appropriate cushioning of the frame 10 is achieved with thickness of foam material which is less than other foam materials having open cell construction.

In operation, the improved bolster construction of this invention functions to provide a bolster which is easily covered by upholstery material 14. Further, both the frame and the pillow member 12 can be inexpensively provided whereby bolsters of the type illustrated can be provided relatively inexpensively compared to prior art bolsters. Still further, the bolster of this invention provides a pleasing appearing bolster and a bolster which is durable during normal usage.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A bolster comprising a hollow frame having a side portion and opposite end portions, said frame being elongated and having a longitudinal axis, a pillow member of foam material covering said frame, and having a first portion intermediate two second portions, said first pillow member portion overlaying said frame side portion and having a generally cylindrical exterior surface, said second pillow member portions respectively overlaying said frame ends, each of said second portions having a centrally located depression therein, said depressions being on said axis, said second portions having a thickness adjacent to the periphery thereof which is larger than the thickness of said second portions elsewhere, a cover of upholstery material covering said pillow member, said cover being cylindrical, said cover overlaying said pillow member, said cover having opposite end portions extending beyond said pillow member, said cover end portions being folded to overlay and conform to the shape of said second pillow member portions, and means for holding said cover end portions in said folded position and to said frame ends.

2. The bolster of claim 1 wherein said pillow member comprises a tubular foam section having opposite closed ends, said ends respectively being closed by said second pillow member portions, said first pillow member portion having a uniform thickness, the interior of said foam section being cylindrical.

3. The bolster of claim 1 wherein said pillow member comprises two tubular foam sections, each of said sections having an open end and a closed end, said second pillow member portions closing said ends, respectively,

said first pillow member portion having a uniform thickness, the interior of said sections being cylindrical, said sections being jointed at said open ends, said pillow member being coaxial of said frame.

4. The bolster of claim 3 wherein said frame is a rigid tube having opposite closed ends, said tube ends being respectively closed by two rigid discs connected to said tube, said tube having an exterior cylindrical surface which extends between said tube ends, said tube surface having a diameter slightly less than said interior of said pillow member, said frame having an axial length slightly less than said interior of said pillow member, said frame being positioned in and snugly fitting said interior of said pillow member, whereby said pillow member is supported by said frame member; and wherein said foam material has a plurality of microminiature, closed, gastight cells therein.

5. The bolster of claim 4 further comprising piping of upholstery material attached to said cover at said periphery of each of said second portions, said piping encircling said pillow member and extending outwardly of said cover.

6. The bolster of claim 5 wherein said holding means comprises openings in said second portions and said discs, said openings being coaxial of said frame and being in registry with each other, two buttons covered with upholstery material, said buttons having head and shank portions, said buttons being connected by a spring extending between said shank portions and within said frame, said head portions being exterior of said frame, said shank portions being in said openings respectively, said spring resiliently urging said buttons together and holding said buttons in position, a portion of said cover end portions being in said openings between said frame and said buttons.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,211,257 1/1917 Thomas 534O 2,593,056 4/1952 Sage et a1. 5340 FOREIGN PATENTS 453,246 12/1948 Canada.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

A. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BOLSTER COMPRISING A HOLLOW FRAME HAVING A SIDE PORTION AND OPPOSITE END PORTIONS SAID FRAME BEING ELONGATED AND HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS, A PILLOW MEMBER OF FOAM MATERIAL COVERING SAID FRAME, AND HAVING A FIRST PORTION INTERMEDIATE TWO SECOND PORTIONS, SAID FIRST PILLOW MEMBER PORTION OVERLAYING SAID FRAME SIDE PORTION AND HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL EXTERIOR SURFACE, SAID SECOND PILLOW MEMBER PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY OVERLAYING SAID FRAME ENDS, EACH OF SAID SECOND PORTIONS HAVING A CENTRALLY LOCATED DEPRESSION THEREIN, SAID DEPRESSIONS BEING ON SAID AXIS, SAID SECOND PORTIONS HAVING A THICKNESS ADJA- 